The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-21
An En.ilare Dairy Farm.


Some time ago we gave an account of
the dairy conference at Richlsnd, 0s-
vego county, says the Utica, n. Y, Her
aid. and promised st the time to furnish
some description OF the farm and siIos of
W. II. Gilbert, where the conference took
place. AS preliminary to such descrip-
ton, it should be mentioned that the soil
of that part OF thelcountry is light and shal.
low, and is not an ideal soil for a dairy
farm. This renders Mr.. GIlbert's sue sess
all the more creditsble, and speaks still
more favoIably for the system which he
advocates.
Mr.. Gilbert enjoys the distinction of
being q frst-clsss butter-maker aud
st the same time OF feeding his CO VS. upon
ensilsge. The time has been, and not
many years ago either, when these two
facts would have been declared to be en-
tirely incompatible. Not only was it BE-
ieved to be impos Iibls to make good but
ter from ensilage-fed COWS, but the facts
known at that time seemed to sustain that
position. Experience had not taught
dairymen the proper time when
their fodder ehould be cut 10 order
TO be sliced, nor had 1t been shown tnem
what feed should be used to supplement
the ensilsge. No one now dreams Of feed.
ing ensilage alone, nor do those who use it
now cut the corn as formerly-when it is
lust in the milk. As Mr.. Gilbert says
corn wants to be cut when it is nearly ms
tured, and Just before the kernels begin to
glaze. In this state the sugar has been we'll
developed, aud portion of the moisture
departed. The feed Is no longer an &C
cumulation Of water inside of green stalks,
but ontaiDs q large amount of nuriment
in the shape of carbohydrates, with q
small proportion of aI6uminoids aud fat.
The albumlnoids and phosphates are to be
supplied by small addition OF mill feed
to the ration.
Mr.. Gilbert has this year about forty
acre. of corn land. Part OF this is com.
mon corn, but the larger share Is the
Southern Horse Tooth corn. 1t ranges
from twenty to thirty tons per acre. The
corn is sowed by drill, using one-haf bush
Ell of shelled corn to the acre. He believes
that there is not only waste, but a dissd.
vantage IN using more. By planting COM
paratively sparse, il obviates the necessity
of thinning ii out. AS soon as the corn is
planted he goes over Ii with roller. and
when it is three inches high he goes ever it
with Thomas suoothing-harrow across
the rows, and cultiva.es it sfterTard. AT.
ter the corn is six inches high he stops
narrowing. When it is ready for harvest
be cuts with a sickle, and draws direstly to
the silo, where Ii In run through q cutter
and drops FROM that into pit.
There are three silos on the farm. Two
OF these are in one barn. Their dimensions
are thirty six feet by fifteen feet aud nine
teen feet deep. One of these is divided By
partition, making two compartments in
case he wants TO put in an early crop be-
fore the main crop. The sides are of solid
plank, but the bottom is of stone cement
ed and carried up he sides about tEo feet.
The building stands Sd that teams eau
drive to doorway az the top of the silOs,
where the corn is handed in directly to the
cutter, which stands on platform tens DO
ssrllY placed across tee TOD of the silos.
On the walls all around lie the heavy
stones ihst are used N weight the ensilsgs
Re calculates to weight IL about two hun
dIed pounds 10 the square foot.
The stable for the cows Is adjacent to ths
szlos- a c8r-track runs ID the door of the
silts, where the feed is shovelsd iato a Cal
and is thus carried along 10 the cattle
During about five months of the summer
the COWS are put 70 pasture, bat are fec
three quarts OF malt sprouts with httls
clover twice q day, as morning and a
night. For the remaining seven molts
they sre kept in the stable To milch COW
he feeds equal weights of corn meal anC
mill feed, ur oats if they are not too ex
rensiys. Two Quarts of this mixture ar,
given to each animal three times a day
the ensilsge being fed only twice, az m1rn
ing and night, about bushel apiece Til
feeding Is done with great regularity u
given hours, aud the milking. twics dav
Is given with equal regularity. Cows d
much better when fed aud MIXED at state
times than If the hours are varied FROG
day 10 day.